September 17th, 2024
Pharmac – Te Pātaka Whaioranga, New Zealand's drug purchasing agency, has initiated a public consultation process regarding its proposal to fund continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps, and insulin pump consumables for individuals with type 1 diabetes. This initiative, if approved, is set to revolutionise the management of diabetes for approximately 18,000 New Zealanders, according to a Pharmac media release on Thursday.
The big picture: Geraldine MacGibbon, Pharmac’s Director Pharmaceuticals, announced that provisional agreements with suppliers have been established to provide these critical diabetes management tools at no cost to the patients.
"We’ve reached provisional agreements with suppliers to provide funded CGMs, insulin pumps, and insulin pump consumables for people with type 1 diabetes,” says MacGibbon.
The agency is now seeking feedback on the proposed products and their distribution within the community.
Details: The consultation aims to gather insights and opinions from patients, consumer organisations, and clinicians on the proposed funding. Following this, a final proposal will be presented to Pharmac's Board for approval. If greenlit, the funding will enable up to 18,000 individuals with type 1 diabetes to gain access to CGMs from 1 July 2024.
Zoom in:
Provisional agreements: The agreements with suppliers are still provisional and subject to board approval based on the consultation feedback.
Potential impact: The proposal could significantly impact the lives of those with type 1 diabetes by simplifying and improving their disease management.
Future proposals: Additional funding plans include a range of CGMs for all type 1 diabetes patients, funding for a specific brand of insulin pump that integrates with a CGM for an automated insulin delivery system, and increased access to insulin pump consumables.
What they're saying: "This consultation brings us a step closer to being able to fund CGMs and the related products. We know that having these products would be life-changing for many people," MacGibbon expressed, highlighting the potential benefits of the proposal.
Between the lines: The proposal outlines comprehensive support for type 1 diabetes patients, including the simplification of access criteria for insulin pumps and an increase in the limit of funded insulin pump consumables. Additionally, from 1 October 2024, funding for a second brand of insulin pump and an additional CGM compatible with funded insulin pumps is proposed, alongside the delisting of the MiniMed 770G insulin pump from the Pharmaceutical Schedule.